Assad Conditions Meeting Erdogan, ‘If It Serves Syria’s Interest’

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russia's special envoy to the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov, at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow (dpa)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russia's special envoy to the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov, at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow (dpa)
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Assad Conditions Meeting Erdogan, ‘If It Serves Syria’s Interest’

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russia's special envoy to the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov, at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow (dpa)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russia's special envoy to the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov, at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow (dpa)

The recent statement of the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, in Moscow surprised many Russians and others, who sensed a victorious tone.

Assad did not refer to the political path to resolving the Syrian crisis and imposed conditions for normalization with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He told Channel One Russia that the negotiations began at the security level and the level of defense ministers, noting that officials are discussing the meeting at the level of assistant foreign ministers and may reach the foreign ministers.

Assad asserted that the most critical issue is maintaining the national interest.

The results of Assad's visit to Moscow may be related to the faltering efforts to announce a breakthrough in normalizing relations between Damascus and Ankara. The Kremlin hoped that the talks would result in clear agreements.

During the talks, President Vladimir Putin deliberately set premises, indicating the success of the Russian armed forces in undermining the terrorist threat.

Putin prioritized ensuring internal stability and improving the economic and living situation.

In the meeting between the two foreign ministers, Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that more favorable conditions for moving towards a political settlement concerning Syria have matured.

Lavrov noted that Moscow seeks to reach fair agreements based on Security Council Resolution No. 2254.

In response, the Syrian position lauded the Russian role in sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the need for all illegal foreign forces to leave the country.

In press statements after the meeting, Assad touched on several issues related to Syria's position within the Russian axis in the face of the new world war.

He escalated his rhetoric against US policies, affirming his country's recognition of the "new Russian borders," and mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, describing him as a puppet of the West.

Assad touched on all the issues on the international agenda as an essential part of the axis of the ongoing Russian war. However, he did not refer to the political settlement in Syria, the Syrians' dialogue, or improving his country's disastrous living conditions.

Meanwhile, Assad maintained his declared positions on the normalization issue with Türkiye and renewed his conditions for meeting Erdogan.

He mocked the statements of Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, who claimed the Turkish presence in Syria was not an occupation, ignoring the suggestion put forward by Russia, which confirmed Türkiye’s readiness to withdraw according to understandings that meet the security interests.

It is possible to proceed from the Kremlin statement to investigate the results of the Russian-Syrian summit, mainly since all official Russian statements ignored the ideas put forward by Assad.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the two presidents discussed several issues, including military-technical cooperation and the normalization of relations between Damascus and Ankara.

Peskov explained that the talks could result in a decision in the coming weeks or months to sign an essential document on further trade and economic cooperation development.

He described the negotiations as substantial, noting that senior officials briefed both presidents.

A Russian diplomatic source said that Assad's media statements and behavior during the negotiations were surprising, as the Syrian president was unwilling to delve into the principles of a political solution.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat the source said it was unfortunate that the Syrian president was unaware how unstable the situation in the de-escalation zone in Idlib was, and that coordination with Türkiye was an essential guarantee for arranging this matter later.

A source familiar with the talks said a clear message was conveyed to the Syrian leadership about the need to deal seriously and positively with the issues. Based on that, it was agreed that Syrian and Turkish officials would start meetings.

A diplomatic source recalled that the Russian Ministry of Finance refrained from responding to the Russian and Syrian Economic Committee's requests regarding funding some projects or giving loans due to the lack of guarantees.

The situation requires a special decision approved by the special monitoring authorities to maintain federal laws.



Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.